Nicholas Sparks's All-Time Favorite Reads

Discover which five books inspire the renowned American romance novelist

Discover which five books inspire the renowned American romance novelist

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courtesy of Nina Subin/Woman's Day

My Top 5 Reads

Like any other great novelist, Nicholas Spark, whose new book, The Best of Me, is in stores October 11, derived his love for writing from reading. Check out the literature that has propelled him along his journey to becoming one of the foremost romance-fiction novelists of his time.

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The Passage by Justin Cronin

"Cronin combines two classic and overused literary elements—vampires and the end of the world—and spins them into something entirely fresh and new. To me, it's an amazing accomplishment."

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Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"As Lisey Landon reminisces about her husband after his death, she begins to confront some strange—and beautiful—truths about who he really was."

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We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

"In a series of letters, Shriver's protagonist Eva Khatchadourian comes to terms with the crimes of her high school–age son. Riveting."

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Tell No One by Harlan Coben

"When a man receives a mysterious email from his deceased wife, he sets out on a quest for answers. One of the all-time great thrillers."

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Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield

"Historical fiction at its finest, this novel recounts the famed Battle of Thermopylae, when a vastly outnumbered group of Greek soldiers took a heroic stand against the powerful Persian army."

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